Corn-harvester.



PATENTED MAR. ;15, 17904.

A. NEER. CORN HA'RVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1901 3 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904.

HO MODEL.

ullllvilu lll fl C. m: nonms rains co, PHOTOYLWHDN vasumowm o PATENTVEDMAR. 15, 190 4.

A. NEBR. 001m HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

H0 MODEL.

THE nonms PETiRS o0. FNOTO-LITHO wnsumr-Ton. n. c,

- UNITED STATES iatented March 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM NEER, OF ST. PARIS, OHIO.

CORN-'HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,491, dated March15, 1904. Applioation filed February 25, 1901. Serial No- 48,795. .Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM NEER, a citizen of the United States, residingat St. Paris, in the county of Champaign and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Corn-Harvester, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to corn-harvesters; and the object in view is toprovide alightdraft machine of the class described which is capable ofbeing drawn along the field by one horse and which is adapted tosimultaneously operate upon two adjoining rows of corn, the machineembodying gathering and guiding mechanism for directing and conveyingthe corn to the cutters, cutting mechanism for severing the stalks,mechanism for forming a shock in rear of the cutters, a platform forsupporting the shock being formed, and mech anisni for dumping theplatform and releasing the shocks from the machine.

One of the principal objects of the in vention is to provide a novelform of gathering mechanism embodying, in connection with drive orsprocket chains, gathering-fingers which are mounted to travel partly inan inclined path and partly in a substantially horizontal direction, thesaidfingers being adapted to fold out of the way in their returnmovement, so as not to interfere with theincoming stalks. In connectionwith such sprocket-chain and gathering-fingers I provide means forelevating or raising and lowering the drive-chain, so as to adapt themachine as'a whole to operate upon corn of different height, and also toeffectively engage leaning stalks and direct the same backward to thecutting apparatus.

Another important object of the invention is to provide adumpingplatform upon which the shocks are formed and to construct saidplatform of flexibly connnected sections, which are attached to avertically-movable frame having operating mechanism connected therewithfor raising and lowering said frame for the purpose of withdrawing thesupport; ing-platform sections from beneath the shocks and dropping thelatter upon the ground.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in connection with thesectional dumpingplatform, a combined supporting-bar for the platformand a releasing device or gate for permitting the discharge of theshocks and to provide the platformframe with means for locking the saidsupporting-bar and releasing device during the formation of the shocks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cut-off for preventingthe corn from passing backward upon the platform as the shocks are beingdischarged, which cut-off is operated automatically by thedumping-platform during the operation of the latter.

In carrying out the objects above recited it is also an object of thisinvention to dispense with as much gearing as possible in order toprovide a light construction of harvester and produce a machine of lightdraft which may be easily drawn by a single draft-animal.

With the above and otherobjects in View, which will more fully appear asthe nature of the improvements is set forth, the invention consists inthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of acorn-harvester complete constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, showing theshock-releasing and platform-supporting bar moved partially outward indotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through themachine, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a verticaltransverse section taken on the line tt of Fig. 2 through theshock-holding platform and illustrating by dotted lines the position theparts assume in the act of dumping the platform. Fig.5 is a detailvertical transverse section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing themanner of driving the corn-gathering chains,

&c. Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on theline 6 6 of Fig. 2 and showing a portion of the mechanism for dumpingthe platform.

Similar numerals of referencedesignate corresponding parts in all thefigures 'ofthe drawings.

The corn-harvester contemplated in this invention comprises a suitableframe embodying, essentially, apair of longitudinally-extending mainplatform-sills 1, between which are arranged other intermediate sills 2,the

TOQ

sills 1 and 2 being provided with bearings for the main axle 3, uponwhich the carrying and drive wheels 4 are mounted. The axle 3 isprovided at a suitable point with bevel gearwheels 5, fast thereon, andby means of which motion is communicated to the gathering mechanism, aswill hereinafter appear.

The machine which is adapted to simultaneously operate upon twoadjoining rows of corn is of sufficient width to extend across both rowsand is provided at opposite sides with two sets of dividers, each setcomprising an outer divider-board 6 and an inner dividerboard 7. Thesedividers taper or contract in width toward their front ends, where theyare diverged or flared in order to form splayed entrance-throats for thecornstalks, the corn being subsequently conducted between thedivider-boards, which form the opposite walls of passages leadingrearward to the cutting apparatus.

As the two sets of gathering devices are duplicates in every respect, itwill only be necessary herein to describe the gathering mechanism on oneside of the machine. Accordingly it may be stated that the innerdividerboard is composed for the greater part of a sectional frame,comprising the sections 8 and 9, the said sections being hinged togetherby means of the pivot 10. The rearmost section 8 is disposedsubstantially in a horizontal plane, while the forward section, which isadapted to swing relatively to the rear section, is normally inclinedand extended downward toward the front end of the apparatus. as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 3. Extending lengthwise of the sections 8 and 9 isa sprocketchain 11, which passes around a driving sprocket-wheel 12 on astud-shaft l3,mounted near the rear end of the frame-section 8, and atits opposite end around a smaller idle sprocketwheel 14, carried by theforward end of the hinged and inclined section 9. At intermediate pointsthe chain 11 passes over directionpulleys 15, journaled at or near theforward end of the frame section 8 and on opposite sides of the pivot10, which connects the sections 8 and 9.- At this point it may be notedthat the pivot 10 is arranged above or to one side of the longitudinalcenter of the hinged frame-sections in order to prevent the unduetightening or slackening of the chain 11 when the section 8 is raised orlowered by the mechanism hereinafter described. The forward end of theinner divider 7 is recessed, as shown at 16, to slidably receive theforward end of the frame-section 9 during the adjustment of theframe-section 8.

The sections 8 and 9 are closed at one side by a side wall 17 ,and theyare partially closed at the opposite side by a removable side wall 18,held in place by means of bolts or other suitable fasteners 19. Theouter frame-plates or walls 18 are also provided with webs 20,whichproject partially across the space between the plates 17 and 18 and formledges for supporting the upper portion of the chain 11 when the samebecomes loose and sags. Connected pivotally to the chain 11 at intervalsare folding gathering-fingers 21, said fingers being hinged to the sideportions of certain links of tllechain, so as to turn on axes parallelto the length of the chain, so that they may fold laterally with respectto the chain. At the upper portions of the sections 8 and 9 openings orgrooves 22 are left, through which the gathering-fingers 21 may projectin a vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 5, the wall or plate 18holding the fingers in a vertical position during their return movementand preventing them from interfering with the rearward movement of thecornstalks.

In line with the lower portion of the chain 11 a laterally-openinggroove or way 23 is provided, through which the gathering-fingers 21 mayproject laterally for the purpose of engaging the cornstalks as theytravel rearward. The forward end of the inclined frame-section 9 isprovided with an oblique or inclined surface 2 1, forming afinger-deflector which operates as the fingers move downward around thesprocket-wheel 14 to rock said fingers outward and cause them to projecthorizontally, as shown in Fig. 2, during their rearward movement alongthe groove or way 23. As the fingers in their rearward movement approachthe sprocket-wheel 12 they are acted upon by the beveled lower edgeofthe frame-plate 18, which extends somewhat in rear of the sprocket-wheel12, and are forced inward, so as to extend radially from the chain as itpasses around the sprocket-wheel 12, the adjacent face of the framemember 8 being beveled or inclined, as shown at 25, to admit of theinward folding movement of the gathering-fingers. In this way it will beseen that as the fingers move rearward and engage and carry backward thecornstalks they are caused to project laterally across or partiallyacross the passage between the divider-boards, and after carrying thecorn backward tothe cut ting apparatus, which is located about in linewith the rear end of the conveyor-chain, they are caused to fold inward,and in their return movement they extend vertically upward from theforwardly-moving portion ofthe chain, so as not to interfere in any waywith the operation of the lower train of fingers.

The mechanism for raising and lowering the frame-section 8 and thegathering-chain carried thereby comprises an elevated supporting-beam26, which is arranged above the section 8 and supported by means of aseries'of braces 27, 28, and 29. Passing through the supporting-beam 26is an elevating-screw 30, which enters a threaded opening in theframesection 8 and has aswiveled engagement with the supporting-beam. Byturning said screw the frame-section 8 will be fed upward or downward,as the case may be, and in this way r the gathering-chain may becorrespondingly raised and lowered for the purpose of adapting themachine to operate upon corn of difjustabove the sill 1 withsprocketwheels 33,

around which passes the lower conveyer-chain 34, which operates upon thelower portions of the stalks in a manner well understood by thosefamiliar with the art to which this in vention appertains. The rearsprocket-wheel 33 is mounted fast upon the main sprocket driving-shaft31, which is provided at its lower end with a bevel-pinion 35, driven bythe bevel gear-wheel 5 on the axle 3. The same shaft 31 is provided withanother bevel-pinion 36, which meshes with a bevel gear-wheel 37,fixedly related to the sprocket-wheel 12, which drives the uppergathering-chain 11, herein- I above described, so that it will be seenthat the same vertically extending shaft 31 imparts motion to both theupper and lower conveyer-chain and drives the same at a speedcommensurate with the movement of the harvester along the field. Theshaft 31 and pinion 36 are rotatably connected in any convenient way, asby providing the shaft with a flat longitudinal surface at one side, sothat the pinion may slide up and down on the shaft-31 when adjusting theframe-section 8, the shaft 31 and pinion 36 being always connected, soas to rotate together. 7

The cutting apparatus consists ofa winged cutting-disk 38, which ismounted faston the 4 shaft 31 adjacentto the top of the platformsill 1,the said cutting-disk being overhung by the arm 39 of a guard-block 40,mounted on the forward platform 41, upon which the grain is primarilyreceived, said forward platforrn4l terminating at-the front in aninclinedledge plate or blade 42, against and in connection with whichthe winged cutter 38 operates. Connected with the supporting-beam 26 andextending rearwardly therefrom is an in wardly-curving inner guide 43,while connected to the elevated rear end of the outer divider-board 6 isa yieldingfender 44, which has its forward endpivotallyconnected to thedivider-board 6 and held normally inward by 7 means of a backspring 45,also secured atone end to the divider-board 6. The corn after being cutpasses rearward between the yielding fender 44 and the guide 43 andaccumulates against a,central divider-rod 46, project ing rearward fromthe main center-post 47 and preferably extended forward therefrom andinclined downward to form a stay-rod 48,

brought to a standstill.

which is connected fixedly at its lower end to the forward platform, asshown in Fig. 6. The object in providing the yielding fender 44 is toallow the shocks after they are bound to be discharged from the machinein a manner which will hereinafter appear, the said fenders 44 beingadapted to overcome the pressure of the springs 45 and yield outwardlyto a suflicient extent to allow the shocks to pass by'the rear endsthereof.

The dumping-platform,on which the shocks are formed, comprises avertically -movable frame consisting of a cross-bar 49, having rigidlyconnected thereto a central longitudinal bar andlongitudinally-extending side bars 51, between which are arranged theflexiblyconnected slats or sections 52 of the dumpingplatform. The slats52 extend longitudinally of the machine, and when in their lowermostposition they form a support for the corn, which passes rearward betweenthe guides 43' and the yielding fenders 44 and rests upon transversesupporting-bars 54 and 55, located, respectively, beneath the forwardand rear edges of the platform-sections. The platformsections areflexibly connected together by hinges 56 of any suitable description andare also flexibly connected by hinges to the central bar 50 andto theside bars 51. Centrally between the bars 50 and 51 the slats aredisconnected, but arranged to lie closely together when the sections arein their downward position, resting on the crossbars 54 and in themanner illustrated'in Fig. 4 in full lines." 'When theplatform-section-carrying'frame is elevated, theflexibly-connectedsections attached to the bars 50 and 51 are raised and automaticallyswing away from each other, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4:, so asto allow the shock to fall to the ground and rest thereon, thisoperation being preferably performed afterthe machine has been After theshocks have been bound the machine is driven ahead a short distance, andupon the rear cross-bar 55 coming in contact with the shocks said bar,which is pivotally connected at one end to one of the main longitudinalsills, as shown at 57, is caused to swing outward rearwardly, thusleaving the shocks standing in thefield. Be-

fore lowering the platform to receive other I shocks the operator swingsthe hinged crossbar 55 back to its normal position, wherethe free endthereof is received, in a mortise or .rabbet 58 in the rear end of oneof the main sills, as shown in Fig. 1. The platform is then lowered, sothat the flexibly-connected sections will rest upon the supporting-bars54 and 55, whereupon the free end of the hinged bar or gate-55 will beheld locked to the frame by means of a latch 59, which is arranged atone corner of the platform and carried by one of the side bars 51, asshown in Fig. 1.

' Connected to the forward end of the central bar 50 and extendingupward from the forward cross-bar 49 is a short standard 60, which liesin contact with or in close proximity to the main central post 47,hereinabove referred to, and is provided with a runner comprisingparallel side plates 61, which extend forward and embrace the post 47and carry a roller 62, which is journaled between the side members 61and operates in contact with the forward side of the post 47, as shownin Fig. 3. At a lower point on the short standard other parallel plates63 are pro vided, which embrace the post 47 on opposite sides and serveto steady the up-and-down movements of the dumping-platform.

In order to raise and lower the dumping-platform, I provide a rock-shaft64, which extends transversely of the machine-frame just in front of thecross-bar 49 of the platform, said rockshaft being journaled in suitablebearings in the machine-frame and provided atone end with an operatingor dumping lever 65, which is controlled from the side of the machine.At a point in line with the central bar 50 said rock-shaft is providedwith a lifting-lever 66, which when the platform is down lies in agroove 67 in the lower side of the bar 50. Said lifting-lever 66 isprovided with a rounded extremity 68, which operates in contact with thebase of the groove 67 and lifts the platform-frame when theoperating-lever is vibrated in a manner that will be readily understoodby an examination of Figs. 1, 3, and 6. The rock-shaft 64 is alsoprovided with a centrallydocated arm 68, to the extremity of which isconnected a belt or strap 69, which passes upward over a pulley 70,supported near the top of the post 47 and thence downward, where it isconnected at 71 to the short standard 60, the arm 68 and strap 69forming auxiliary mechanism for raising and lowering thedumping-platform. The post 47 is preferably slotted or provided with anopen center to receive the arm 68, strap 69, and pulley 70. A truss-rod7 2 extends from the outer end of the central bar 50 forward and upwardto the top of the short standard 60, to which it is connected for thepurpose of bracing and preventing the sagging of the central bar 50.Similar truss-rods 73 extend from the outer ends of the side bars 51forward and upward to the tops of posts 74, extending upward from theinner ends of the side bars 51, thus securely supporting the rear end ofthe platform as it is elevated and before it is relieved of the weightof the shocks carried by the platform-sections.

75 designates a divider-rail which extends from the top of the shortstandard 60 rearward and has its rear end supported by a post 76,extending upward from the bar 50. Side standards 77 extend upward fromthe main longitudinal platform-sills 1 to form lateral braces for thevertically-movable side bars 51 of the platform in order to prevent thespreading outward of said side bars during the raising and lowering ofthe platform. Supporting-wheels, preferably in the form of casters 78,are mounted beneath the rear end of the mainlongitudinal sills 1 to formefiicient sup port for the rear of the machine.

In order to prevent the rearward movement of the corn during thedischarge of the shocks, I provide a pair of automatically-operatedcutofli's 79, preferably in the form of rods hinged at their upper ends,as at 80, to the central post 47 and resting against the side members 61of the runner hereinabove described, so that as the runner moves upwardon the post 47' the cut-oifs 79 will be swung upward from the full lineposition of Fig. 4 to the dotted-line position of the same figure, inwhich position they extend across the rear end of the passage betweenthe divider-boards and prevent the corn from passing back upon theplatform. When the platform is dropped or lowered, the cutoffs 79 aresimultaneously moved from across the passage between the divider-boards,there; by allowing the corn to gain access to the shock-formingplatform. The other dividerboard,6, is supported by means of aforwardlyextending strip81, which is secured to the top of one of themain sills 1 and enters a longitudinal slot 82 in the outerdivider-board, as shown in Fig. 1, the divider-board being secured tothe strip 81 in any convenient manner so as to admit of its removal whenaccess is required to the conveying-chains.

83 indicates a coupling-eye to which the draft-animal is hitched fordrawing the machine along the field.

84 represents a pair of curved guides between which the butts of thecornstalks-are directed-onto the platform.

From the foregoing description it will beseen thatI have provided asimple light-draft corn harvesting machine capable of being drawn alongthe field by a single draft-animal and adapted to operate simultaneouslyupon two adjacent rows of corn; also, that the upper gathering-chain ismade adjustable up and down for the purpose of adapting the machine tocorn of different heights; further, that the 1 corn after being cut isdelivered upon a dumping-platform, an independent platform being usedfor each row of corn and the two platforms being arranged at oppositesides of the longitudinal center of the machine. It will further be seenthat the platforms may be readily dumped for depositing the bound shocksupon the ground and that the rear cross-bar of the machine, whichsupports the platform-sections, will automatically swing outward torelease the shocks and leave them standing in the field; further, thatwhen the hinged rear cross-bar is returned to its normal position andthe platform lowered said bar will be locked in its closed position,thereby adapting it to form an efficient support for the rear ends ofthe flexibly-connected platform- From the foregoing it is thought thatthe construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-describedinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without furtherdescription, and it will be understood that various changes in the size,shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be re- .-sortedto without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

What Iclaim is 1. In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner andouterdivider-boards defining an intermediate passage having a splayedentranoe throat, said inner divider-board including a lessconveyer-chain passed around the sectional frame and provided withfoldable gathering-fingers, means located at the front end of thepassage for moving the fingers to their operative positions, and meansat the rear end of the passage for moving, said fingers to theirinoperative positions. 7

3. Inacorn-harvester, the combination with rigidly mounted inner andouter dividerboards definingan intermediate passagehaving a splayedentrance-throat, said inner divider-board including a sectional framecomprising a rear horizontal section and a front inclined section hingedthereto, of means for vertically adjusting the rear section of saidframe, sprocket-wheels located at the front and rear ends of the frame,a conveyer-chain passed around the sprocket-wheels and pro-' vided withindividually-swinging gatheringfingers, means for disposing said fingersin their horizontal positions during their rearward travel, means forretaining said fingers in their vertical positions during their forwardtravel, and cutting mechanism in rear of the passage between thedivider-boards.

4. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a divider-board including asectional frame,

one section of which is downwardly and forwardly inclined and hassliding engagement with another section of the divider-board,sprocket-wheels mounted on the frame, a con veyer-chain passing aroundsaid sprocketwheels and having gathering-fingers, and

means for raising and lowering said frame.

5. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a conveyer-chain providedwith gathering-fingers, of a vertically-movable frame carryingsprocket-wheels over which said chain passes, an elevated beam arrangedabove said frame, and an elevating-screw connecting said beam and framefor'raising and lowering the latter.

6. In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner and outerdivider-boards .defining'an intermediate passage for cornstalks, of alower conveyer-chain movable around vertical axes,

a vertically-movable frame disposed above said chain, an upperconveyer-chain carried by the frame, and mounted to move aroundhorizontal axes and gearing arranged to maintain the operativeconnection between the chains at all times.

7 In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner and outerdivider-boards defining an intermediate passage, said innerdivider-board including a vertically-movable frame, a lowerconveyer-chain below said frame, an upper conveyer-chain carried by theframe and provided with gathering-fingers, means for adjusting the framevertically, and gearing between the upper and lower chains, said gearingbeing arranged to maintain the operative connection between the chainsduring the 'adjustment of the frame.

. 8. In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner and outerdivider-boards defining an intermediate passage, said innerdivider-board including a vertically -adjustable frame, of a pair ofvertically-disposed shafts extending through said frame and constitutingguides therefor, means for driving one of said shafts,

a pinion mounted on said shaft and movable.

with the frame, and a conveyer-chain provided with gathering fingers andgeared to said pinion.

9. In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner and outerdivider-boards defining an intermediate passage, of a pair of upstandingshafts, sprockets mounted on the lower ends of said shafts, a lowerconveyer-chain passing around said sprockets, a vertically-movable frameguided upon said shafts and provided with sprockets, an upper conveyerchain passed around the sprockets and provided with gathering-fingers, apinion mounted on one of the shafts and geared to one'ofthesprocketwheels carried by the frame, said pinion being movable with theframe as the latteris adjusted vertically, means for-driving the'shaftupon which the pinion is mounted, and means for effecting the verticaladjustment of the frame; i

i 10; In a corn-harvester, a platform on which the shock is formed,comprising a verticallymovable frame, means for raising and lowering thesame, comprlsing a rock-shaft carrying a Iifting arm engaging theplatform and flexibly-connected platform-sections connected with saidframe.

11. In a corn-harvester, a platform on which theshock is formed,comprising a vertically- IIO movable frame having parallel longitudinalbars, a slatted floor having the sections thereof flexibly connected toeach other and to said longitudinal bars, and means for raising andlowering said frame.

12. In a corn-harvester, a platform comprising a vertically-movableframe having parallel longitudinal bars, a platform-floor composed ofsections flexibly connected to each other and to said parallel bars,means for raising and lowering the frame, and transversely-arrangedsupporting-bars located between the flexibly-connected sections.

13. In a corn-harvester, a platform comprising a vertically-movableframe, floor-sections flexibly connected to each other and to saidframe, means for raising and lowering the frame, and a hinged barconnected to the machine-frame and forming a support for the rearportion of the platform-sections.

14. In a corn-harvester, a platform comprising a vertically-movableframe, floor-sections flexibly connected to each other and to saidframe, means for raising and lowering the frame, a hinged beam forming asupport for the rear portion of the platform, and a latch on theplatform-frame adapted to interlock with said hinged supporting-bar.

15. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a vertically-movableplatform comprising flexibly connected floor sections, of a rock-shaftprovided with an operating-lever and also provided with means forraising and lowering the platform-frame.

16. In a corn harvester, a dumping platform comprising avertically-movable frame, floor-sections flexibly connected to eachother and to said frame, and means for raising and lowering the platformcomprising a rock-shaft extending transversely of the machine-frame, anoperating-lever connected with said shaft, and a lifting-lever connectedto said rock-shaft and operating beneath the platform, substantialy inthe manner and for the purpose specifie 17. In a corn-harvester, thecombination with a post, of a platform comprising a vertically-movableframe, a runner connected to said frame and movable up and down on saidpost, and flexibly-connected floor-sections carried by said frame.

18. In a corn-harvester, the combination with the gathering and cuttingmechanism, of a post, a dumping-platform, a runner connected therewithand movable up and down 4 on the post, and a cut-off hinged to said postand adapted to be vibrated by the runner as the latter moves up anddown, said cut-off being designed to prevent the corn from reaching theplatform during the operation of depositing the shock on the ground.

19. In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner and outerdivider-boards defining a passage for the cornstalks, cutting mechanismin rear of the passage, a vertically-movable dumping-platform in rear ofthe cutting mechanism, and gathering devices for conveying thecornstalks through the passage to the cutting mechanism, of a cut-offlocated at the rear end of the passage, and means operated by themovement of the dumping-platform for presenting the cut-off across therear end of the passage to prevent the corn from passing to theplatform.

20. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a conveyer-chain havinggathering-fingers, of a frame carrying sprocket-wheels for said chainand comprising a hinged downwardly-inclined forward section, and adivider-board section with which the inclined frame-section has asliding connection.

21. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a conveyer-chain providedwith foldable gathering-fingers, of a vertically-movable frame carryingsprocket-wheels over which said chain passes, a supporting-beam arrangedabove said frame, an elevating-screw connecting said beam and frame forraising and lowering the latter, and means carried by the frame todeflect the fingers.

22. In a corn-harvester, a platform on which the shock is formedcomprising a verticallymovable frame having parallel longitudinal bars,a slatted floor having the sections thereof flexibly connected to eachother and to the longitudinal bars, means for raising and lowering theframe comprising a transverselydisposed rock-shaft provided with anoperating-lever and also provided with means for raising and loweringthe platform-frame, the rock-shaft being journaled in suitable bearingsin the machine-frame.

23. In a corn-harvester, the combination with a frame and cuttingmechanism, of upper and lower conveyer-chains disposed in advance of thecutting mechanism and movable respectively aroundright-angularly-related axes, means for effecting the relativeadjustment of the chains to accommodate stalks of different lengths,driving mechanism for said chains, and means for maintaining anoperative connection between the chains and the driving mechanismirrespective of the relative adjustment of the chains.

24. A dumping-platform for corn-harvesters, comprising avertically-movable frame, and a pair of separate floor-sections havinghinged connection at their outer edges with the frame, whereby thevertical movement of said frame will cause the floor-sections to swingoutwardly to dump the shock.

25. A dumping-platform for corn-harvesters comprising avertically-movable frame having a pair of parallel bars, a pair ofseparate platform-sections hinged to said bars and disposed horizontallybetween the same, means for sustaining said sections in their normalpositions, and means for elevating the frame to cause theplatform-sections to swing outwardly and thereby dump the shock.

26. In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner and outerdivider-boards defining an intermediate passage for the cornstalks, ofcutting mechanism located at the inner end of the passage, adumping-platform in rear of the cutting mechanism, and a cut-ofi oper:ated by the movement of the dumping-platform to obstruct the rear end ofthe passage and thus prevent the passage of the stalks to the platformfrom the cutting mechanism.

27 A dumping-platform for corn-harvesters, comprising avertically-movable frame, and a floor-section having hinged connectionat its edge with the frame, whereby the vertical movement of said framewill cause the floor-section to swing downwardly and outwardly to dumpthe shock.

28. In a corn-harvester, the combination with inner and outerdivider-boards defining an intermediate passage having a splayedentrance-throat, of upper and lower relatively adjustableco'nveyer-chains disposed to convey cornstalks through the passage andmovable around right-angularly-related axes, folding gathering-fingerscarried by one of the chains, and means for automatically moving thefingers into and out of their operative positions. 1

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ADAM NEER.

